Oathmark elves revealed! Plastics pics p. 6!

[Hobgoblin]

I like the Elves the most out of the ranges they've released so far. Building an elf army, if you don't like GW elves, isn't that easy. There is the old Grenadier/Copplestone Elves knocking around but they are quite GW like and Ral Partha Europe has some nice ones but other than that other ranges are small/not that good/expensive or Mantic  .

These look really good to me and being plastic means I could probably afford a decent sized army.

Yup - to me, these look the nicest elves since Aly Morrison's old early-80s High Elves for Citadel.

[KGatch113]

I like the Elves the most out of the ranges they've released so far. Building an elf army, if you don't like GW elves, isn't that easy. There is the old Grenadier/Copplestone Elves knocking around but they are quite GW like and Ral Partha Europe has some nice ones but other than that other ranges are small/not that good/expensive or Mantic  .

These look really good to me and being plastic means I could probably afford a decent sized army.

Exactly! If you nose around this site, you'll see my various posts asking about heads/size compatibility. I was planning on kitbashing elves from various historicals, but Roman and Greek heads just didn't work. ( I'd have gone with Spartan pilos helmets, but the Spartans had beards ). I ended up choosing Macedonian heads from Victrix to go with Fireforge Teutonic bodies, and I may still use some for my vision of elves with the Oathmark heads.

IMHO both from Tolkien's writings and other depiction of elves, they would not have had a precise uniform military, but would have had a number of individuals extremely skilled at arms. But that's just me. I almost choked when one poster asked about females elves, saying they loved to go into combat.....Each to their own I guess.

[Severian]

Still not quite sold on these, I'm afraid. It's probably unfair to judge from this selection, though, so I'll wait and see. Actually, I'll almost certainly pre-order a box in any case (I'm guessing they're aiming for them to be out for Salute).

My biggest sticking point (as it were) is the helmets - not the feathers, which as has been mentioned are detachable, but the shape. I'd much rather a rounder, less-pointed helmet, like some of the old Ral Partha elves, or those in some of the Alan Lee illustrations to the Children of Hurin. I'd settle for a sort of open Corinthian helmet. But these don't really work for me - too medieval-ish.

Without seeing the sprue, though, it's obviously impossible to know what the head options will be, and what sort of compatibility there might be with other sets or ranges (there are probably some Perry late medieval heads, or Victrix Greek ones, that might work, but who knows if they'd fit...)

Not wild about the shields either, but that's very easily fixed. Although I can see these shields being a standing challenge to the freehand painting wizards out there....

Having said all that, these are overall very promising and the Oathmark range as a whole is going from strength to strength. Time to build some more goblins....

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

In the end, it's whatever you like as personal choice.  As for a 1st Age look the Noldor, at least, are described as having high or tall helms (I can't quite remember the wording) - so I would almost think these helmets aren't tall/pointed enough.  But a few closed helms would also be nice.  

Edit:  A lot of elven armour and weaponry was dwarven made, certainly for the Sindar early in the First Age.  These helmets may well be lower/rounder. 

[powerfrog99]

Lovely minis, I have really waited for these kind of stuff 
Cheers Thomas

[jetengine]

Didn't like the painted one. These plastics look pretty good. I'd need to see oathmarks rules before I lay down any money though.

[guitarheroandy]

I really like the armour, shields and weapons, but not the helmets. They just look a bit 'ordinary'. Perhaps years of GW and the Jackson movies have influenced me a little too much or maybe it's just my own internal image of Elves from The Silmarillion not quite matching up. Good to see something a bit different though.

[jauntyharrison]

I like the plain Jane helmets, I think I'll be replacing the shields with ones that look less fantastical, probably just viking era round shields.

It really bugs me that they're wearing gloves. That's not at all a dark ages sort of thing to wear. I may have to greenstuff some sleeves terminating at the wrists.

[Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye]

I think they'll be perfect for Tekumel, even with the scaled back plumage.

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

I like the plain Jane helmets, I think I'll be replacing the shields with ones that look less fantastical, probably just viking era round shields.

It really bugs me that they're wearing gloves. That's not at all a dark ages sort of thing to wear. I may have to greenstuff some sleeves terminating at the wrists.

Gloves seem to be common to many elf sculpts.  That and FM boots.
I agree that they would have been better without gloves, but they still seem the most practical elves I have seen.

[Nord]

It really bugs me that they're wearing gloves. That's not at all a dark ages sort of thing to wear.

It's very elfish though, they are very particular about getting dirty. It's why they have tall helmets too, when you spend all morning working on your hair, you don't want it ruined by a spring shower or a pesky battle.

[adventure_85]

I think some of the heads from the Russian Fireforge infantry would go well with these elves.

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

I think some of the heads from the Russian Fireforge infantry would go well with these elves.

Good God, man.  I hope you are not suggesting bearded elves!!

[Coenus Scaldingus]

The oval breast plate is still bugging me; I imagine it was included to break up the chainmail, but it will be difficult to cover up unless sculpting full surcoats or so on them. Not a huge fan of the shields either (random indentations to top, side or both sides), but those are easily switched with others.

Other than that, they're great. Best plastic armoured Elves, among the best armoured Elves out there in general. Just loving the chosen aesthetic for this range.

[Gibby]

I love those elves. In an age of Warcraft-inspired fantasy aesthetics and rule-of-cool over the top crap like EVERYTHING IN THE HOBBIT FILMS (ahem), I think it's nice to see more realistic, yet still fantastical models such as the Oathmark stuff. I shall definitely be planning a fantasy project around these...